A book valet, also known as a book nook, or reading stand is essentially an elevated book rest, often with a triangular design, that provides a designated place for your book when you need a break from reading. Think of it as a luxurious bookmark that doubles as a stylish organiser for your reading essentials like reading glasses, bookmarks, or a cup of tea.
Beyond the practical benefits, book valets offer a touch of charm and personality to your reading experience. They create a designated "book nook" in your home, a cosy and inviting space dedicated to immersing yourself in the world of stories.
Imagine curling up in your favourite chair with a warm drink, your book waiting for you reading on your cosy book valet, the soft glow of a reading lamp casting a warm light. This creates a complete reading sanctuary, giving you a sense of relaxation and focus, allowing you to truly escape into the world of your book.
If you're looking for a thoughtful and unique gift for the bookworm in your life, look no further than a book valet. It's a practical and stylish accessory that shows you care about their passion for reading and their comfort. You can even personalise it by choosing a book valet with a unique design or inscription to make it extra special.
So why not add a touch of comfort, style, and personality to your reading experience or surprise a bookworm in your life with a book valet? It's a small investment that can significantly enhance your reading journey and create an enduring love for curling up with a good book in a cosy nook.
]]>Here at Ingrained Inc, we handcraft personalised gifts to make it super easy for you to win at Valentines day! The perfect gifts for a cosy, considered and tat free Valentines day.
This is a bit more of a rustic homely idea, without the valentines theme. But still heartfelt and absolutely delicious. Find the together board here
Leather Keyring Companions: Wherever their adventures lead, these handcrafted real leather keychains keep their keys organised and connected. Imagine the subtle touch of your initials against their fingertips, a reminder of your bond, even when miles apart. They can be personalised on the reverse too, add your own special message or a significant date, to make it mean that much more.
We also create these special Coordinate keyrings which are one of my favourites because we can add the etched coordinates of a special place – perhaps your first campsite, the balcony where you said "I love you," or the peak you conquered together. They are simple but oh so meaningful, a reminder of the journey you've embarked on and the paths you'll walk together.
From morning coffee to evening tea, these coasters are a sweet idea for the tea or coffee obsessed. Lovely little idea for bedside tables, one for each of you. Or for their office desk to remind them you're thinking of them always! They can also be engraved on the back with a special (or secret) message if you like!
Tree Carving Bookmark: Do they have a love for getting lost in a good book? This personalised bookmark, crafted from natural wood and engraved with your initials, marks their place and reminds them of you with every turn of the page. And you can add your own special message just to them on the back too!
Engraved Walnut Ring Box: This intimate treasure chest, not just for rings, these wooden magnetic boxes are great little something to show how much you love them! Are you thinking of popping the question? Look no further.... Engraved with your initials, and a secret message on the inside, perfect for a special quote or a date.
More than just gifts these Valentines keepsakes remind them of your favourite places, special days and most of all, how much you love them. Personalise them with your favourite in jokes, how bloody amazing they are and how glad you are to have them with you.
These are just some of the items we have in our valentines collection otherwise I'd be writing forever! But you can find the rest of our Valentines Collection here
]]>One of my new years resolutions is to get ORGANISED with my business and usually nothing sticks! As a creative business there's a lot to keep on top of & i'm juggling many many plates. So I needed something that could keep all of my ideas, plans and thoughts in one place & look super cute.
INSERT BULLET JOURNALING
Once I figured out bullet journaling has everything I needed, and whatever layout I want and the added extras of my own designs and aesthetic then I was all in.
I'm sure you've seen all those ✨ aesthetic ✨ journals on Instagram and Pinterest, which are absolutely stunning but I needed a planner that's functional with a twist. Where I can add all my ideas and find them again quickly without spending HOURS doodling out a 2 page spread for the week. But also had scope for a doodle or two when the need arose.
It's does take a bit of setting up, and planning at the start but once you get into the swing of it, it gets easier, and the work you put in at the start totally pays off.
The best thing for me is the index, this is what my brain needed and I haven't even thought about putting in a notebook. Add all the page numbers here, and titles of the pages here. Then you can either group all the things the same here or colour code it to find all your notes on similar themes. Great for when you have lots of ideas spread over different pages.
This is an actual game changer for me as I'm someone who hoards notebooks with random pages of different notes and finds it really hard to find anything at all. Why I hadn't even thought about it when now it's glaringly obvious, I don't think I'll use a notebook or journal the same way again!
You have to remember to index things as you add new pages though.
What's a future log? I hear you ask! - It's pretty much another calendar, or somewhere to put in all the important dates you're working towards or have to remember. For me I use this to keep all the key selling dates i.e. Valentines day, Mothers day & Fathers day. Also random days of note that I can build social media around.
I've quartered the year, as some things work better over a 3 month period whereas others a month and 3 months nicely fit into a page.
Actual meetings and scheduled things go in my digital calendar as this keeps me right with notifications etc.. But that's what works for me. You do what works for you. And that's the great thing about making a bullet journal. It's tailored to your needs.
Next is the Key
This keeps you and your monthly / weekly tasks on track, I've opted for a very simple key. But if you look on Pinterest for a bujo key. I'm sure you'd find a million and one different ways of doing a key.
The next page for me is the Brain dump. Literally get EVERYTHING out of my brain and on to a page. This helps me focus and know that the idea is safe and sound in my bullet journal.
I have done a yearly brain dump and a monthly brain dump so the year overview is more of the bigger ideas that I can organise and chunk down into months or the quarters i.e. Q1 - Q4 and then eventually schedule in the weekly and monthly pages.
Once I've done the brain dump then I write goals for that period.
Yearly goals are big things I want to accomplish over the year. Like write at least 12 blog posts or re design the website. Or create a new product range.
For monthly goals I pick 3 tasks I'd like to accomplish before the month is out. For example, make a new range of bookmarks, or post on social media 3 times a week (AT LEAST), or write a blog.
If you love this whale bookmark - I make them so if you'd like your own cute wooden bookmark that can be personalised you can find them here
This is where I put my tasks for the week. If they aren't finished or moved to the next week then I'll migrate them to else where. I also have a weekly recurring task
Once the month is over I'll do a review of the Month or the Quarter. So what went well what didn't go well. What I should do more of what I should do less of. This will help me stay focussed on my goals set at the start and keep me on track.
So you can track pretty much anything in the tracker but I'm tracking my socials for the month. Mainly engagement and reach for Instagram. And you can create nifty graphs and tables to add all your data in.
*This post may contain affiliate links. They will be of no extra expense for you, but I receive a small credit. Please see my Disclosure for more details. (I only support things I actually use and love) Thank you for supporting Ingrained Inc!
If you've been following us for a while, you'll know that in Feb 2021 we purchased a wee building for Ingrained Inc - The Smiddy. It is going to become the workshop for our woodworking dreams. In this blog I'll be taking you behind the scenes and on the journey with us as we breathe new life into this rustic gem.
We absolutely fell in love with The Smiddy as soon as we walked through the doors (we look at it everyday as it's very close to our house) We had never been inside but always wanted to see inside (the windows weren't much help looking inside) On an off chance encounter we managed to flag down the owners and had a look about.
It was amazing! A total Tardis. It looks so small on the outside but just opens up as soon as you step through the door.
However we knew it needed a lot of work! But we had to have it. Thankfully the owners were willing to sell and after a few months it was ours! (HOORAY)
We aren't sure how old it is but know it was an old blacksmiths workshop. The deeds are written in ye olde English and are signed in the date 1922, A captain purchases all the lands and farms and workshops in the area, and this is the first time it comes up in any legal documents. But It would have been built even before this date!
We started off gutting the place, we uncovered three chimneys and the back wall had chains in them - probably for chaining up livestock (horses etc... for re shoeing) And there was all sorts of metal work poking out of the walls to hang things on too.
The previous owner was a joiner by trade and used the Smiddy as a workshop. I think he wasn't a fan of getting rid of things as it was a treasure trove of oddities.
Amidst the rubble and decay, we uncovered discarded paint cans (about 50!) oil drums, a treasure chest, and old tools and machinery. That's where we found Doris, a 35 year old pillar drill which I'm still using today! She helps me with my tealight holders, and wooden wildflower vases.
But first we needed to gut the place before we could get any woodworking done, as the place has been left discarded for so long.
We wanted to get the doors and windows replaced first to start getting the place weatherproof, as they were in dire need of replacement. However we soon found out that we needed to get the floor in to get a level for the doors.
The back part of the Smiddy was essentially a bog, the floor was lower than the road outside which had let a lot of water in. Especially with the doors being so rotten at the bottom. The floor was big railway sleepers on top of mud, which had partially rotted. So squelched when you walked on them 😬.
So we decided to have a polished concrete the floor to make it easier for cleaning, a foundation for what is level and plumb and for moving things about with ease.
Here are the stages of the floor.
Once the floor was in, the doors and windows could finally be done. The doors were an odd size, had to be custom fitted - the widest that our joiner Kyle has ever fitted / measured! All the windows were different sizes too. So the building kept Kyle on his toes! (sorry Kyle!)
This is the back of the building and the transformation is WILD!
One of the first things we did after this was fix the slates at the front of the building, as the roof was very leaky. Very noticeable in the winter time!
The change is absolutely mind blowing!
Internally it still needed work, we had to run cables over from the house to get electric so that was the next job to do.
The Smiddy had not been connected to mains electricity ever; it was always run on a generator. Obviously with running machines to make things we needed a reliable electricity source. So we wanted to get that sorted as soon as the building was watertight. Which meant we had to get one of the walls repointed so we could place the switch board and meters on.
That wall is so beautiful! I can’t believe how beautiful It ended up looking. Obviously the rest of the walls need doing as a lot of the mortar is very crumbly! It’s on the very long list of things to do.
The roof in the back of the building was the last job we've completed to date. The back roof was made of asbestos so not an easy task to remove. It was replaced with a black sheet metal roof with some skylights in which brings an amazing amount of light through to the back of the building. As apart from the two windows in the back there wasn’t much light at all, and with the mezzanine there the top was always very dark.
As my husband always says, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” we are taking our time doing up the Smiddy bit by bit. There is still a lot to do to get it to where we want it. The Smiddy is a long-term investment in our woodworking goals. We're committed to making it sustainable and preserving its legacy for generations to come. It's a journey filled with challenges, especially as nothing is plum, level or ever goes according to plan. But that is what makes me love it even more!
The Smiddy, once a blacksmith's refuge, is now our creative sanctuary. It's a place where history meets craftsmanship, and where the slow living of the countryside inspires our work. Follow along as we continue to breathe life into this old soul, turning it into our happy place.
To be continued...
ANNIVERSARY GIFTS BY YEAR:
1ST YEAR: Paper
As you celebrate your first year together, embrace the symbolism of paper. Consider gifting personalized stationery, a beautifully written love letter, a scrapbook filled with cherished memories, or tickets to a concert or event.
2ND YEAR: Cotton
Cotton represents the comfort and versatility that comes with the second year of marriage. Options for cotton gifts include luxurious bathrobes, cosy blankets, stylish apparel, or personalised cotton items such as monogrammed towels or embroidered pillows.
3RD YEAR: Leather
Leather signifies durability and strength, just like the bond you've built in three years of marriage. Think about leather accessories like wallets, belts, or bags, a stylish leather jacket, or our personalised leather keychains or if you're into travelling together then we also have personalised luggage tags!
5TH YEAR: Wood
Wood represents the strength and stability of your relationship after five years. Opt for a wooden chopping board with your other halves favourite treats on for a romantic indoor or outdoor picnic. A walnut ring box engraved with their name & special date. For the bookworm how about a personalised bookmark engraved with their initials?
We specialise in wooden anniversary gifts so you can find our wooden anniversary gift guide here:
7TH YEAR: Wool/ Copper
Wool and copper symbolize warmth and beauty, respectively. Ideas for wool gifts include cosy wool blankets, soft woollen jumpers, or warm wool socks. For copper, think about elegant copper jewellery, a set of copper mugs for enjoying drinks together, or a copper home décor piece.
8TH YEAR: Bronze
Bronze represents the strength and resilience of your relationship. Consider a bronze sculpture or figurine, a personalized bronze keychain, or even a weekend trip to explore a city renowned for its bronze statues and artwork.
9TH YEAR: Pottery
Pottery signifies the moulding and shaping of your life together. Look for handmade pottery vases, bowls, or mugs, or better still a pottery class or workshop experience, creating memories and maybe even creating the scene from ghost!!
10TH YEAR: Tin/ Aluminium
Tin or aluminium marks a decade of togetherness. Explore options like personalized tin or aluminium jewellery, a stylish tin watch, or even a surprise trip to a destination known for its aluminium architecture or landmarks.
11TH YEAR: Steel
Steel represents strength and endurance. Consider gifts such as personalised steel jewellery, a steel watch, a set of steel kitchen utensils, or a personalised Steel Keyring
12TH YEAR: Silk
Silk signifies luxury and elegance. Explore options like a silk robe or pyjamas, a silk scarf or tie, silk bedsheets, or a romantic silk-themed getaway.
13TH YEAR: Lace
Lace symbolizes beauty and intricacy. Look for lace lingerie or clothing, a lace-trimmed photo album or picture frame, a lace tablecloth or curtains, or a visit to a lace museum or exhibition.
14TH YEAR: Ivory
While traditional, it's important to note that ivory comes from endangered species and its use is controversial and illegal in many places. Instead, consider alternative materials that resemble the beauty of ivory, such as ivory-coloured porcelain, ivory-inspired artwork, or a romantic trip to a destination known for its ivory architecture or history.
15TH YEAR: Crystal
Crystal represents clarity and transparency. Consider gifts like a crystal vase, crystal glassware or decanter set, a crystal chandelier, or a maybe go down the geode route. Don't take them all literally, as that's part of the fun!
20TH YEAR: China / Porcelain
China symbolizes elegance and grace. Look for fine china dinnerware, a delicate china tea set, or how about a trip to China town, delighting in Chinese street food. Porcelain ring dishes & décor are also a perfect addition to a 20th anniversary gift.
25TH YEAR: Silver
Silver represents beauty and sophistication. Explore options like silver jewellery, a silver photo frame or engraved silver keepsake, silver tableware, or a special silver-themed celebration.
30TH YEAR: Pearl
Pearls symbolize purity and wisdom. Consider gifts such as pearl jewellery, a pearl-adorned accessory or watch, a pearl-embellished photo album, or a romantic beach vacation where you can search for natural pearls.
35TH YEAR: Coral
Note that coral reefs are endangered ecosystems, so it's important to consider alternatives that don't harm the environment. Look for coral-inspired gifts such as coral-coloured clothing or accessories, coral-themed artwork, or a donation to a coral conservation organization.
40TH YEAR: Ruby
Ruby represents love and passion. Explore options like ruby jewellery, a romantic ruby-coloured evening gown or tie, a ruby-inspired artwork, or a special trip to a place known for its ruby gemstones.
45TH YEAR: Sapphire
Sapphire symbolizes loyalty and sincerity. Consider gifts such as sapphire jewellery, a sapphire-coloured home décor piece, a romantic sapphire-themed cruise or vacation, or a visit to a sapphire mine or museum.
50TH YEAR: Gold
Gold signifies wealth, strength, and prosperity. Celebrate with gifts like gold jewellery, a gold watch or cufflinks, a luxurious golden anniversary trip, or a special gold-themed party surrounded by family and friends.
55TH YEAR: Emerald
Emerald represents love, rebirth, and vitality. Look for emerald jewellery, a beautiful emerald-themed artwork or home décor item, or a trip to a destination known for its emerald landscapes or gemstone mines.
60TH YEAR: Diamond
Diamond symbolizes everlasting love and strength. Consider diamond jewellery, a diamond-encrusted anniversary band or watch, a memorable diamond-themed experience, or a grand celebration to mark this remarkable milestone.
Even if the gifts may seem "little" in the grand scheme of things, their significance far outweighs their physical size. They serve as gentle reminders of the promises we made, the memories we've created, and the dreams we continue to nurture together. These traditional gifts are not merely objects; they are the embodiment of our shared love story, woven with moments of joy, growth, and unwavering commitment.
By following the tradition of anniversary gifts based on materials, you can add a meaningful and personal touch to your celebrations. Remember to choose gifts that align with your partner's preferences and values while considering sustainable and ethical options. These anniversary gifts will serve as lasting reminders of the love and commitment you share throughout your journey together.
]]>Look no further! Ingrained Inc is here with a Father's Day gift guide that will help you find the perfect present for every type of dad. From personalised glasses to custom keyrings, bookmarks, and chopping boards, we have something special that will make his day unforgettable.
Let's dive into our curated collection and discover the ideal gift that will show Dad just how much you care!
Raise a toast to your extraordinary father with our personalised glasses. Engrave his name or a special message on a whisky glass, tumbler glass, or highball glass. Every sip he takes will remind him of your love and appreciation. This paired with his favourite tipple is sure to be a winner!
If your dad loves to get lost in the pages of a good book, surprise him with a personalised wooden bookmark. Engraved with a heartfelt message or his favourite quote, it will be a constant companion on his reading adventures. Paired with a new book or a vintage old favourite. What could be better?
For the culinary genius in your life, our personalised wooden chopping boards are a must-have. Crafted with care, these wooden boards can be engraved with Dad's name or a witty message. Let him showcase his skills with a touch of personalisation.
Don't forget to cater to the coffee-loving dads! Elevate his morning routine with our personalised coffee spoons. Engraved with his name or a fun coffee-related quote, these spoons will bring a smile to his face with every scoop. It's the perfect accessory for his daily dose of caffeine.
Can't decide on just one gift? Create a personalised gift bundle tailored to your dad's interests. Combine a custom glass, keyring, bookmark, and chopping board into a unique package that's sure to put a smile on his face.
This Father's Day, make it a day to remember with a personalised gift from Ingrained Inc. Our range of engraved glasses, keyrings, bookmarks, and chopping boards allows you to create a heartfelt gift that perfectly captures the essence of your dad. Show him how much he means to you with a present that will be cherished for years to come. Visit our online store today and give your dad a Father's Day gift he'll never forget!
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It's Autumn! Crunchy leaves, roaring fires and blankets galore!
Over at Ingrained Inc. we love this beautiful season and for plenty of good reasons.
In this blog, I'm going to show you how I like to capture the autumnal sprit and bring it inside, whether that be creating wee nooks in the house to showcase my favourite things or table centrepieces to really highlight some of the finest elements of the season
So by now, you'll have probably heard of the Scandinavian trend of Hygge - but for those not au fait - its basically a lifestyle trend based around comfort and cosiness.
But we're a Scottish business, So let me instead introduce you to the concept of Coorie.
The etymology of the word Coorie began as "to stoop, bend or crouch for protection" but over time changed to mean "to snuggle or nestle" which in turn, has been adopted as a lifestyle trend quite similar to that of Hygge.
So go on that golden toned walk through the forest, cast off your big coat, grab a hot chocolate (or coffee and Baileys) and Coorie Doon.
Here are my 7 favourite ways for giving your home the perfect autumn treatment:
Bring the outside in! Autumn is a perfect way to show off mother nature in all her glory.
Pinecones are a fantastic way to do this and an amazing way to get the kids involved. My favourite game to play with my girls is "who can find the smallest / biggest pinecone" this way you’re bound to get a wonderful collection very quickly & it gives you an opportunity for foraging adventures outside.
Our garden gives us a lot of gems. I've created whole floral displays in my home with things I've found in the garden. Sticks, dried out foliage and dried flower heads can all make something very autumnal, without breaking the bank. Or in my case all free! All you need is a nifty vase and you’re set!
Here’s a video tutorial on how to create your very own dried flower arrangement:
I’ve found arranging the foliage first is the easiest as it’s the biggest thing, then slotting everything else around the leaves is a lot simpler, as you can use them as a prop to help the other elements stand up.
I’ve used the rule of 3 on the grass, dried flower head and sticks. Using 3 of each item helps to distribute the weight, and gives the eye something to focus on.
The great thing about dried flowers is that you can move them around as you like - with no water dripping everywhere, so if you think you want another focal point somewhere else it’s super easy to change it up.
For example: other great plants to use would be Heathers, dried lavender, and dried grasses.
So there you go. An easy and free way of getting some Autumn into your house.
I love changing up a few corners of the house to keep it seasonal. It stops me from getting bored seeing the same things over and over again - that's my creative brain leaking out! - and in turn prevents me from wanting to completely redecorate a whole room - much to my husbands delight! (You're welcome Matt!)
I massively enjoy finding a few select items that I love, so I can tie them in with what I'm trying to create. Such as: coloured books, rocks, and different ornaments from around the house - Then rearranging them in a brand new way. This way I'm not buying new items, I’m just admiring what I have and seeing them in a whole new light, just by changing the way I display them!
This cute squirrel, was on a bookshelf tucked away, but now he has pride of place on the mantelpiece 'guarding' the treasures the kids bring home when out for walks.
Try for warm colours - your oranges, reds, yellows & browns. All the colours you think of when you think of autumn.
Here’s a colour chart of my favourite autumnal colours,
Stick to colours that compliment each other and add a few accent’s here and there.
In love with the sage, cream and orange colours of last years décor.
Now, I love a massive, fluffy blanket especially when it gets to snuggle season. As well as being practical, keeping you warm without having the heating on full blast, they're great for adding a luxury feel to a sofa or nook, especially if you pair it with some cute throw pillows. Definite coorie vibes here!
Candles, as well as being a self care staple, can add an extra sensory dimension to a space by engaging your sense of smell. Warming and spicy scents such as pumpkin, honey and cinnamon will really round out your decor and the overall feel of the space.
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
Did you know that sense of smell is closely linked to the memory and emotional reaction portion of the brain. That's why certain smells conjure nostalgia, spiced apple always reminds me of cold nights drawing in and sitting by a blazing fire in my old, childhood house.
You can also really play with light, creating some soft glows and shadows to really highlight the favourite parts of your home.
A mantelpiece (if you have one) is an ideal spot for this.
Show it off, obviously I love wooden things - it's literally my job description! There's certainly no lack of wooden decorative items in my home!
But this time of year is the perfect time to display them. Wood adds warmth, texture, and a sense of nature to a space.
Here's another part of our mantlepiece, Using wood to tie in colour palettes and botanical designs.
Obviously pumpkins are synonymous with autumn and spooky season, so if you just add just 1 mini pumpkin to your home then you're golden - the mini squashes are the cutest! - and only £0.89 from Aldi.
You can use them as candle holders, flower vases, and generally looking awesome. Get creative!
I absolutely love the white ones.
And bonus - you can then decorate them when Halloween comes around!
Photo by Robert Ban on Unsplash
I hope you’ve enjoyed this wee guide. Tag me on instagram @ingrained_inc if you’ve been inspired to Autumn-ify your home. I very much love browsing autumn décor so if you can fill my life with more then I’m all for it!
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Scroll to find the correct tutorial, Happy making!
To purchase the family bear scene you can find it here
To purchase the personalised bear you can find it here
To purchase the bear in a jumper you can find it here
To purchase the deer winter woodland scene you can find it here
Happy making and hope you like them!!
]]>As the weather is (oh so slowly!) improving, I'm already planning and preparing for a spectacular BBQ garden party that has a little extra panache to make up for this last year spent away from some of my most cherished people! So, I've shared a list of my favourite cocktails here, and when the time comes, you too, can have some recipes to hand for that spur of the moment shindig, pre-planned garden gathering or that warm chilled out weekend when you've decided to just do something special for yourself.
You can always pin for later - Enjoy!
A refreshing fruity drink to cleanse the palate. One of my Favourites!
Glass: Tumbler
Garnish : Blackberries and a Slice of Lemon
2 Shots of Gin
1 Shot of Freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 Shot of Sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
1/2 Shot of Crème de Cassis or Chambord
Add the first 3 ingredients to the glass and mix, add crushed ice and muddle together. Drizzle the crème de cassis over the top to create the bleeding effect, and add the garnish.
Sit back and enjoy!
Glass: Tumbler
Garnish : Blueberries
A Handful of Blueberries & some to garnish
1 Shot of Gin
1 Shot of Violet Gin (I used Boe)
1 Shot of Freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 Shot of Sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
Muddle / mush the handful of blueberries in the bottom of the glass, Add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Add Ice, and blueberries to garnish.
12 Fresh mint leaves
4 Shots of Pressed apple juice
1 Shot of Freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 Shot of Sugar syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass (aka bash them about a bit) Add the apple juice, lime juice and sugar syrup. Half fill the glass with crushed ice and churn the ingredients together, add more ice and churn, repeat until glass is full, and add the garnish.
Sit back and enjoy!
To make alcoholic add your drink of choice (mine would be rum)
Glass: Jar
Garnish : Mint Sprig
10 Fresh mint leaves
2 Shots of white rum
1 Shot of Freshly squeezed lime juice
Cup of Peach iced tea (I used Liptons)
Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass (aka bash them about a bit) Add the rum, lime juice and peach tea. Half fill the glass with crushed ice and churn the ingredients together, add more ice and churn, repeat until glass is full, and add the garnish.
Sit back and enjoy!
Glass: Tall Glass
Garnish : Slice of Lime
3 Shots of Vodka
1 Shot of Freshly squeezed lime juice
1 Shot of Rhubarb syrup
Cup of ginger beer
Add ice to the glass, add vodka, rhubarb syrup, lime juice and mix, Top up with ginger beer and add the lime to garnish. Enjoy!
Crushed Ice - the best way to crush ice would be using a food processor, however if you don't have one to hand then a tea towel and a rolling pin is totally fine too.
Sugar syrup - Needed for cocktails, because adding straight sugar to a drink doesn't dissolve or mix properly. To make a sugar syrup you add 2 parts sugar to 1 part water to a pan, and boil until dissolved, leave to cool and use in whatever cocktail you'd like.
If you don't want to make your own you can buy gomme syrup from most supermarkets.
Rhubarb Syrup - I made mine with the rhubarb we grow in the garden. It grows like weeds so we have ample! I'm always needing ways in which to use it. To make the syrup you need 4 cups of rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Simmer in a pan together for approx. 10 minutes until the rhubarb is soft. Strain off the rhubarb pulp with a sieve and collect the syrup. Leave to cool and use as you with. Store in a in a sterilised jar or bottle, keep in fridge.
You can find our range of cocktail themed wares here:
]]>It's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride at times, but I think the one thing I've noticed about all of this uncertainty is that most of us have found some comfort in the slower pace of life. Be that drawing yourself a ridiculously bubbly bath and lighting a few candles (when all the kiddos are tucked up in bed of course!), making a little nest on the couch with an unnecessary amount of blankets, an indulgent hot chocolate - fully embracing that wonderful Scandinavian Hygge living.
Or simply picking up an old (or new!) favourite book and immersing yourself in another world for a few hours. I don't know about you but there's just something so comforting about picking up a book, the weight of it in your hand, that new book smell, the paper pages between your fingers...bliss!
That being said, although I've indulged myself in plenty of self care the last few months it's also given me the time to plan and create a brand new bookmark range - and with all the reading I've done, I've had plenty of time to road test the wares!
Check them out here
I hope to continue on the slow pace in life, once we get back to some form of normality (what even is that?) And to remember that self care IS important. Take time for yourself and to do the things you love. Nourish the soul!
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